Combined cut-out and controlling switch.



ENTED NOV. 3,1903.

G SWITCH.

T AND 101: FILE COMBINED an 1Tb IODEL.

' TIIESSES filnm UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

COMBINED CUT-OUT AND CONTROLLING SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Yatent No. 743,246, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed February 11, 1903. Serial No. 142,865- (llo model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEE S. CHADWICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ridley Park, county of Delaware, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Out-Out and Controlling Switch, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the means of controlling the opening and closing of an electric circuit, and particularly the opening and closing of the battery-circuit for producing the spark required to ignite and explode the motive fluid in gasolene or other engines of the explosive type which are commonly used as the motive power for motor-vehicles or automobiles.

The object of my invention is to provide means to enable the operator at will to close or open the circuit and also at his option to render it impossible to close the circuit by the manipulation of the regular circuit-closing device.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of the combined controlling and cut-out switch on steering-wheel, the circuit being diagrammatically indicated. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side View of the combined controlling and cut-out switch. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 2.

a is the spoke of the steering-wheel A, said wheel constituting the supporting member of the switch.

I) is a spring-plate secured to Ct by means of a screw 0, an insulating-plate d being interposed between the spring-plate and its support.

e is a non-conducting button extending through an orifice in spoke a, and movable up and down therein and having an enlarged head e engaging the free end of springplate I).

h h are ears depending from the spoke ct and having orifices through which extends a contact piece or pin 71), having a knob 'm is a diagram of the battery; at, a diagram of the sparking-chamber attached to the engine; o, a conductor leading from one pole of the steering-wheel, and s a conductor leading from the spring-plate to the other pole of the battery.

Normally the parts are in the positions indicated in the drawings and the circuit is closed, the current passing from the battery through conductor 0, sparking-chamber n, conductor r, wheel A, ears h, pin 70, springplate 17, and conductor 8 back to the battery. The current is opened by pressure of the finger on the button e, which forces the springplate I) out of contact with the pin 70. The current is closed by removing the pressure 011 button 6, which permits the spring-plate to assume its normal position of contact with the pin. To cut out the circuit, the button 6 is depressed, thus opening the circuit, and the pin 70 withdrawn. When now pressure on the button is removed, the spring-plate will move up, as before, but owing to the removal of the pin the circuit will not be closed. The operator, therefore, can leave the machine or vehicle, and it will be rendered inoperative until he returns and reinserts the pin.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. A combined controlling and cut out switch consisting of a contact-piece connected with one terminal of the circuit, a spring switch-plate connected with the other terminal and normally in contact with said contact-piece, whereby the circuit is normally closed, means for forcing said switch-plate out of contact with said contact-piece, and means whereby said contact-piece may be sustained in its normal position or removed, substantially as described.

2., A combined controlling and cut out switch consisting of a spring-plate connected with one terminal of the circuit, a supporting member connected with the other terminal of the circuit, a pin removably supported thereon, said spring-plate being normally in contact with said pin and closing the circuit, and a button for moving said spring-plate away from said contact-piece and thus opening the circuit, substantially as described.

3. A combined controlling and cut out switch consisting of a supporting member connected with one terminal of the circuit, a

spring-plate, connected with the other terminal of the circuit, supported on said member and insulated therefrom, orificed ears on said supporting member, a pin removably inserted through said ears, said plate being: normally in contact with said pin, and a button supported on and movable upon said sup porting member for moving said spring-plate out of contact with said pin, substantially as described. v

4. A combined controlling and cut out switch consisting of a steering-wheel connected with one terminal of the circuit, a spring-plate, connected with the other terminal of the circuit,supported at one end on said Wheel and insulated therefrom, a button supported on and movable upon said wheel and engaging the free end of the spring-plate and by means of which said spring may be retracted, orificed ears on said wheel between said button and the fastened end of the spring-plate, and a pin removably inserted through said ears, said spring-plate being normally in contact with said pin, substantially as described.

5. 111 a combined controlling and out-out switch, the combination, with a battery and sparking-chamber, of a switch-plate, electric connection between said switch-plate and one pole of the battery, a contact-piece, electric connection between said contact-piece and the other pole of the battery, said sparkingchainber being interposed in the circuit, means for moving said plate into and out of contact with said contact-piece, and means whereby said contact-piece may be sustained in its normal position or removed, substantially as described.

In testimony of which invent-ion I have hereunto set my hand, at Chester, Pennsylvania, on this 6th day of February, 1903.

LEE S. CIIADVVICK.

Witnesses:

T. CARROLL MiRKIL, M. M. HAMILTON. 

